According to Iran.ru electronic news service, Iran has tightened control over its borders with Azerbaijan in order to prevent transportation of narcotics to the Islamic Republic. As told to the information source by the governor of the Ardebil province of Iran, Ali Nikzadeh, Tehran has allocated $4 million for these purposes.

Iran.ru quoted Nikzadeh as saying that the Ardebil province has recently become a transit point for drug trafficking. The total borderline of the province with neighboring Azerbaijan is 380 kilometers. Meanwhile, according to an official statement by the Azeri side, the bulk of illicit drug contraband is brought to Azerbaijan from Iran. In 2006, 90 percent of arrested Iranian citizens were convicted of illicit circulation of narcotics, reported Iran.ru.

This information was originally published September 21, 2007 (www.iran.ru)